Creel



June 29, 1937. l J. F. ANDERSON CREEL Filed April 23, 1956 Patented June 29,` 1937 UNITED STATES CREEL Joseph F. Anderson, Rockford, Mich., assignor to Ed. Cumings, Inc., Flint, Mich., a. corporation of Michigan Application April 23, 1936, Serial No. 75,942

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to creels and more particularly to creels used by trout or fly fishermen. o

The primary objects of the instantl invention are to provide a creel havinga cover latching devi-ce which may be readily manipulated by the fisherman with one hand; to provide a creel having a cover latching device automatically operable by the attracting force of gravity; to prolo vide a creel having a frictionally resilient cover latching device; and, to provide a creel whose Icover latching device is simple in construction,

utilitarian `and effective in use and economical in manufacture.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing,lwherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a creel such as is used b-y trout or y fishermen provided with the novel cover latching device;

Figure 2 is a top plan View thereof; and

Figure 3 is a sectional view on line 3--3 of Figure 2 showing the latching device in cover latching position in full lines and in its* slid unlatched position in dotted lines.

Referring to the drawing in which like parts of the creel and its cover latching device are designated by the same numerals in the several views, the creel per se isl ofthe conventional woven willow or wicker type used by trout Vor fly fishermen while wading and fishing a stream and comprises a basket portion having an arcuate rear side wall I0 adapting it to t the body of the fisherman when in use and a front side Wall II of lesser height than the rear wall III thereof and likewise arcuate in shape.

The front side wall II is provided with a bolt receiving aperture adjacent its peripheral edge formed by an upstandingwoven loop I2 of the willow or other wicker material anda cover I3 .10 likewise of Woven willow or the like is hingedly connected adjacent the peripheral edge of the rear side wall I Il of the creel in the conventional manner. v

The cover I3 in its closed position lies at an angle to the front and rear side walls I0, II of the creel and a bolt I4, here shown as of i Wood and wedge 'shaped and provided with a medially disposed upstanding knob I5, is limitedly slidably secured to the upper surface of the cover I3 between the spaced woven loops I 6, Il.

The bolt I4 through its knob I5 may thus be `manually manipulated by one hand of the fish-l erman from its position shown in full lines in Figure 3wherein the pointed end of the bolt has been slid through the bolt receiving aperture or loop I2 into frictional resilient latching engagement, to its position shown in dotted lines in the same View permitting the cover to be 6o lifted. Gravitational pull will cause the bolt to slide from its unlatched position shown in dotted lines in Figure 3' to its frictionally resilient latching position shown in full lines because of the angular inclination of the cover I3 relative to the front and rear side walls III, II of the Creel which is provided with the conventional shoulder strap I8 passed through its rear side wall I0 and with the conventional opening I9 in the cover I3.

It will thus be seen that the cover latching device for the creel herein shown and described may be readily manipulated by one hand of the fisherman and that in contrast with the conventional latching strap and rotatable button found on other types of creels requiring manipulation by both hands, the latching device of the creel of the instant invention is a novel improvement from the standpoint of convenience to the fisherman with his rod in one hand, wading a stream frequently having a treacherous bed and overhung by tree branches.

While but one specific embodiment of the invention has been herein shown and described it will be understood that certain details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim: 1

1. In a shing creel, a woven wicker basket having a bolt receiving aperture in its wall adjacent its peripheral edge formed by a woven wicker loop, a woven wicker cover for said basket provided with spaced woven wicker loops and hingedly secured thereto adjacent the peripheral edge of its wall opposite the wall thereof provided with the boltreceiving aperture, and a wedge shaped bolt limitedly slidably secured Within the spaced woven wicker loops of the cover whose one end thereof is adapted to frictionally resiliently fit within the aperture in the sliding .movement of the bolt in one of its slid directions.

2. In a fishing creel, a woven wicker basket having side walls of different heights, the side wall having the lesser height being provided with a bolt-receiving aperture formed by a woven wicker loop adjacent its peripheral edge, a woven wicker cover for said basket provided with spaced Woven wicker loops and hingedly secured thereto adjacent the peripheral edge of its wall opposite the wall thereof provided with the bolt-receiving aperture, and a Wedge-shaped bolt limitedly slidably secured within the spaced woven wicker loops of the cover whose one end thereof is adapted to frictionally resiliently fit within the aperture in the gravitational sliding movement of the bolt relative to the cover.

JOSEPH F. ANDERSON. 

